Electric shaver



May 12, 1942. c. T. BRElTl-:NSTEIN ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed May 19, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet l May 12, 1942.

c. T. BRElTENsTElN 2,283,038

ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed May 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 12, 1942 c. T.BREWENSTEIN 2,283,038

ELECTRIC SHAVER Filed May 19, 1938 3 sheets-sheet s Eig. 7 A GplPatented May 12, 1942 abnorme snAvER Charles T. Breitenstein, Chicago,lll., assigner to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, lll.

Application May 19,v 193s, serial' No. 208,813

(or cov-43) 21 Claims.

'Ihe invention relates to improvements in an electric dry shaver of thetype having an arcuate perforated or screen type skin engaging and hairreceiving guard head.

In shavers of this type heretofore used, the arcuate head guard piecewas more or less inexible and a single radially related rigid cutterblade of the vane type was rapidly oscillated back and forth so that oneedge only of the blade wiped against the inner face of the guard toshear off hairs extending inwardly into the head through theperforations or screen structureof the guard. Since the blade hadopposite right angle cutting edges, these edges in time, because of thefriction present, gradually dulled and in fact the square edge becamerounded so that the shearing acticn necessarily suffered and the shavingeiiiciency was materially reduced. Also with this type of shaver it isfound that if slight dents, from careless handling, were made in theguard head piece, the stii radial blade or cutter could not closelyfollow the inner surface contour of the perforate guard, thus furtherreducing the effectiveness of the shaving or haircutting action.

With these problems in mind, the main objec of this invention is toprovide a much improved shaver of the arcuate, perforate head type.

Another object is to provide in combination with such head, a blade, thecutting edge of which instead of being related radially to the innersurface of the guard, is tangentially related thereto so that instead ofdulling the cutting edges of a blade, it is maintained constantly sharpby a self-sharpening action.

Still another object is to provide such a blade which is double edged.

Also it is an important object to provide such a blade which is iiexibleand of the wafer type, so-that it combines with a perforate guard in amanner closely to follow the contour thereof, even when the latter maybe slightly dented.

Another object is to provide an improved means for oscillating andcarrying a plurality of tangent, exible. blades so that two cuttingedges are always cooperating with the perforate guard head materially tospeed up the shaver action.

Still another object is to provide a simple effective means for mountingone or more of these blades on the oscillator member in a quicklyattachable and detachable manner.

Also it is an object to provide an effective means for always yieldinglypressing a plurality of wafer blades into tangent cutting edgeengagement with the inner surface of the arcuate, perforate guard piece.

Other important objects are to provide .generally for a simplifiedconstruction so that the head structure may be quickly and easilyassembled and taken apart without the need of any special tools.

Other important objects will become apparent to vthose skilled in thisart as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, such desirable objects may be attained by the illustrative, butpracticable example of the invention shown for sake of disclosure in theaccompanying sheets of drawings, said-shaver comprising a holder or bodyenclosing an electric double edged flexible or Wafer type razor'blades,

said blades being yieldably pressed. into engagement as chords of an arcwith respect to an arcuate, flexible, perforate head guard member, sothat the cutting edges of these blades are in tangent relation to theinner surface of the perforate guard member. The stroke of theoscillator is so proportioned through the arc of the perforate guardmember that all four cutting edges of the two, double edged blades wipeor shear over the entire angular distance of the said perforate guard.The disposition of the blades relative to the perforate guard member issuch that the cutting edges of the blades are selfsharpening. So muchwill suce in presenting a general understanding of the improved shaverstructure.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is vertical, central cross sectional view through the head endof the improved electric shaver on a much enlarged scale;

Figure 2 is a normal size, end elevational View of the head end of theshaver;

Figure 3 is a much enlarged cross sectional view to illustrate clearlythe operative association of a blade with the perforate head memberguard;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through the headalong the line 4-4 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a full size side view of the head end of the shaver;

Figure 6 is a full size head end View of the shaver;

Figure 'l is an enlarged top end plan view of the head structure withthe perforate guard and end plates removed to expose the interior parts;and,

Figure 8 is a cross'sectional view taken through the head along the line8 8 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved shaver comprises a suitable holder or body I0 shapedconveniently to con-- form to the-hand grip of the user, said bodyhousing a suitable electric motor, not shown, for

An aperturedvplate I3 is secured to the exteriorface of the wall I2 andsuitably carries oppositely disposed curved fiat springs I4, .for apurpose presently to appear. Adjacent each spring I4 the proximateportion of the holder I0 is formed with respective niches I5, as shown.The body or holder extends upwardly to the edge I5 so that the exteriorsurface of the end wall I3. is in a recess.

-As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the plate I3 has end walls Il providedwith-opposite sets of ears I3 carrying opposite rigid parallel crossshafts I3. These opposite cross shafts I9 constitute pivot shafts forpivotally recei in he ears formed on the inner face of si e clamp plates2| for holding said latter plates in a position as shown in Figure 1 tobe pressed against by the respective side springs I4. The lower edges ofthese plates 2| are thus positioned to be pressed inwardly into theniches |5 while the upperedges of these plates are each formed withabent tang portion 22 for a purpose to appear. Thus, it can be seen thatthe user by pressing the opposite side plates 2| inwardly, below thepivots I9, into the niches I5 against the press of the springs I4,causes thetangs 22 to be spread apart, for a purposepresently/to/appear.

Resting down against the edge I6 of the body is an inverted U-shapedhead piece 23 having on each side a slot 24 to receive the respectivetangs 22 whereby said head piece may be detachably but firmly held inplace. The opposite inner faces of the piece 23 are provided with smallseats 25 on which rests the legs of an arcuate, perforate, screen guardpiece 26 of thin, flexible steel, which piece 25 is suitably snappedinto place to bear on the rests 25, with the arcuate surface thereofconforming to the contour of the head piece 23, the top portion of thelatter being cut away to provide a large opening 21 whereby to expose arelatively wide angle of the perforate guard 26 as best seen in Figure6. The sides of the piece 23 are provided with spaced, oval shaped slots28 to permit escape of hair clippings.

In cross alinement the end walls I1 carry bearings 29 for journaling a.cross pivot shaft `30 on which is mounted for rapid, oscillatorymoveyment, an inverted U-shaped, or channel member 3| the opposite legportions of which carry two, spaced parallel cross rods or shafts 32disposed below the pivot 30, as best shown in Figure 1. Between theserods 32 is disposed an upwardly extending inclined crank or eccentricpin r 33 suitably anchored in a carrier plate 34, as shown. This platewhich has an angular extension 35 to obtain the angled position of thepin 33 has an elongated, round-ended and parallel-sided, slot to fitover an upstanding pin 36 having a complementary shape, the plate 34, ofcourse, fitting down as tightly as possible on said pin 35. The pin 36may be part of a hexagonal nut 3l securely thread fastened to the upperthreaded end 38 of the motor shaft 35.

A pair of rivet posts 39 having enlarged caps 40 is rigidly carried inspaced relation on the horizontal, flat, bight portion of the channelpivot member 3|, as shown, each post being encircled by a coil spring 4|resiliently to push upwardly toward the caps 40, a pressure plate 42.This plate 42 is rectangular in shape and along opposite edges has apair of angularly extending tongues or tangs 43, which as shown inFigures 3 and 7 are extended loosely into a pair of complementary slots44 formed in a double-edged. flexible, thin, wafer type of razor blade45. Thus, two such blades are provided and, as seen in Figure 1, eachblade in its cooperative position with respect to the arcuate guardpiece 23 describes the chord of an arc. It follows necessarily that eachcutting edge of each blade 45 as best shown in Figure 3 is tangentiallyrelated tb the curvature of the inner surface of the guard, 23andconsequently a self-sharpening action on the cutting edges of the bladesis produced.

Further, the width of the blades is such that for each to and fromovement thereof across the head guard 26, two leading edges cut one wayand the other two leading edges cut the other way. This materiallyspeeds up the hair cut- -.ting action and each hair projecting throughthe guard perforatlons can be cut from opposite directions.

Another feature is that the blades 45 are ilexible and so is theperforate guard 26 and as a result with'the spring pressed followerplate 42 the blades and guard tend yieldingly,4 to conform to each otherso that minor dents in the guard will not affect the eiiiciency of thehair severing action.

In operation, the motor runs to turn the shaft and nut 31. 'I'his spinsthe eccentric, angled pin 33 between the rods 3,2, thereby rapidlyrocking or oscillating the member 3| to and fro, with the .result thatthe flexible blades 45 .are rocked therewith because the pressure holderplate 42 must `rock with the member 3|. The blades 45 tangentially wipethe inner surface of the arcuate guard piece 23 and since they areyieldably pressed at all times by the springs 4| it follows that theblades shear hairs projecting through the guard very closely and alsothe blades are self-sharpening. 'I'he shaver is held substantiallyperpendicular to the skin surface being shaved in a manner well known inthe art. By using two blades with double cutting edgesthe cuttingactionis speeded since for each stroke two cutting-edges sweep the innersurface of the guard 28. Hair clippings fall out of the head through thelarger openings 28.

The head structure is easily taken apart by means of the pinch sides 2|whereby the piece 23 with the thin steel guard 23 are quickly removed.'Ihis exposes the blades and oscillator mechanism for cleaning andinspection. An advantage resides in the fact that the wafer blades arecheap and easily replaceable, if for any reason it becomes necessary todo so.

From this detailed disclosure it must now be plain that an improvedelectric dry shaver has been provided which attains the objects for theinvention heretofore recited.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications of theexample herein chosen for purposes of illustration which do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded perforateskin engaging guard member, the combination with said member of asubstantiallyiiat cutter blade disposed ilatwise in a plane chordally tothe arc of the inner surface of the member and having a cutter edge,

. aasaoss blade at selected points only, to leave a maximum' n bladeseach held lchordally flatwise in spaced surface of the bladexfrlge/foryieldable floating accommodation of its cutting edge to the innersurface of said guard. p

2. In an electricshaver having a head including a rounded perforate skinengaging guard member, the combinationwith said member of asubstantially flat cutter blade disposed flatwise inna plane chordallyto the arc of the inner surface of the member and having a cutter edge,.means for moving the blade across said inner surface in such chordalplanes in a manner to cause said edge to be self-sharpening, said bladebeing of the flexible wafertype, and a blade holder included in saidmeans and resiliently` pressed toward the guard for carrying said bladeat selected points only, to leave a maximum surface of the blade freefor flexiwng and yieldable floating accommodation of its cutting edge tothe inner surface of said guard.

3. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded perforateskin engaging guard member, the combination with said member of asubstantially fiat cutter blade disposed flatwse in a plane chordally tothe arc of the inner surface of the member and having a cutter edge,

means for moving the blade across said inner surface in such chordalplanes in a manner to cause said edge to be self-sharpening, said bladebeing flexible and having two separate cutting edges both of whichcontact the inner surface of the guard along lines spaced the Width ofthe blade, and a blade holder included in said means and resilientlypressedv toward the guard for carrying said blades at selected pointsonly, to leave a maximum surface of the blades free and unencumbered forflexing and yieldable floating accommodation of their cutting edges tothe inner surface of said guard.

4. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded perforateskin engaging guard member, the combination with said member of asubstantially flat cutter blade disposed flatwise in a plane chordallyto the arc of the inner surface of the member and having a cutter edge,means for moving the blade across said inner surface in such chordalplanes in a manner to cause said edge to be self-sharpening, both theguard member and blade being extremely thin and flexible, and a bladeholder included in said means and resiliently pressed toward the guardfor carrying said blade at selected points only, to leave a maximumsurface of the blade free and unencumbered for flexing and yieldablefloating accommodation of its cutting edge to the inner surface of theflexible guard.

5. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded perforateskin engaging guard member, the combination with said member of a thinflexible blade having opposite cutting edges with the blade heldilatwise and chordally in engagement with the inner arcuate surface ofthe member, means for rapidly moving the blade in relation to themember, and a blade holder -included in said means and resilientlypressed toward the guard for carrying said blade at selected pointsonly, to leave a maximum surface of the blade free and unencumbered forflexing and yieldable floating accommodation of its opposite cuttingedges to the inner surface of said guard. A

6. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded perforateskin engaging guard member, the combination with said member of a pairof fiat, thin, dougle edged ex-ible cutting relation but in engagementwith the inner arcuate surface ofthe member, means to hold the bladeschordally to the said surface, and means for oscillating the blades inrelation to the member, said blade holder means being resilientlypressed toward the guard and engaging `said blades at selected pointsonly, to leave a maximum surface of each blade free and unencumbered forflexing and yieldable floating accommodation of its opposite cuttingedges to the inner surface of said guard. y

'1. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded flexibleperforate skin engaging guard member, the combination with said memberof a flexible rectangular blade having opposite cutter edges flatwiseengaging the inner surface of the member, means holding the bladechordally to the inner arcuate surface of the member and for yieldablypressing the blade to hold its edges against said surface, and means tomove the blade relative to the member, said blade holder means engagingsaidblade at selected points only, to leave a maximum surface of theblade free and unencumbered for flexing and yieldable floatingaccommodation of its opposite cutting edges to the inner surface of saidguard.

8. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded flexibleperforate skin engaging guard member, the combination with said memberof a thin flexible blade having opposite cutter edges engaging the innersurface of the member, means to hold the blade as the chord of an arcrelative to said surface with opposite cutter edges contacting saidsurface, means resiliently pressing the blade to hold its edges againstsaid surface, and means to oscillatethe blade, said blade holder meansengaging said blade at selected points only, to leave a maximum surfaceof the blade free and unencumbered for flexing and yieldableaccommodation of its opposite cutting edges to the inner surface of saidguard. y

9. In an.electric shaver having a head including a rounded flexibleperforate skin engaging guard member, the combination with said memberof a pair of separate flexible cutter blades, means to hold said bladesin spaced relation to each other and respectively along chords of thearc of the member, means yieldably to press said blades with their edgeswiping the inner surface of the member, and means rapidly to move theblades relative to said surface,said blade holder means engaging saidblades at selected points only, to leave a maximum surface of each bladefree and unencumbered for flexing and yieldable accommodation of theircutting edges to the inner surface of said guard.

10. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded flexibleperforate skin engaging guard member, the combination with said memberof a pair of flexible cutter blades, means to hold said blades in spacedrelation to each other and respectively along chords of the arc of themember, means yieldably to press said blades with their edges wiping theinner surface of the member, and means rapidly to move the blades ing arounded flexible perforate guard, the combination with the guard of aflexible cutter blade,

means to hold said blade along the chord of an arc relative to the innersurface of the guard, means for moving the bl'ade relative to saidsurface, and -means for detachably holding said blade in such position,said blade holder means engaging said blade at selected points only in amanner to leave a maximum surface of the blade free and unencumbered forflexing and' yieldable accommodation of its cutting edges to the inneran angularly disposed eccentric pin positionedv between said rods torock the holder and move the blade in relation to the guard, said finhaving an axis intersecting the projection of the axis of the rotaryshaft.

13. In an electric shavery having a head including a rounded guard, thecombination with the guard of a member rockably carried in the head,spaced pins carried on themember, a pressure plate resiliently carriedon the pins, a blade caraaaaoss 11. In an electric shaver having a headinclud- 17. An electric shaver having an arcuate perforate guard, thecombination therewith of an ried by the plate, said blade positionedalong the disposed along respective chords of the arc of the guard andeach having cutter edges to wipe the inner surface of the guard, andmeans to oscillate the member, plate and blades as a unit.

15. In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded guard, thecombination with the guard of a member rockably carried in the head,spaced pins carried on the member, a pressure plate resiliently carriedon the pins, a blade carried by the plate, said blade positioned alongthe chord of the arc of said guard and having a cutter edge to wipe theinner surface of the guard, and means to oscillate the member, plate andblade, the head and blade both being flexible.

16` In an electric shaver having a head including a rounded guard, thecombination with the guard of a member rockably carried in the head,

spaced pins carried on the member, a pressure plate resiliently carriedon the pins, a pair of blades detachably carried by the plate, saidblades positioned in spaced relation and each disposed along respectivechords of the arc of the guard and each having cutter edges to wipe theinner surface of the guard, and means to oscillate the member, plate andblades as a unit, the head and blades both being flexible, with theblades each having two separate cutting edges.

oscillatable thin flexible double edged blade positioned along the chordof an arc of the guard and wiping the inner surface thereof in amannerto cause the edges to be self-sharpening. and a resiliently supportedblade holder positioned within the guard and including means engagingsaid blade at selected points only in a manner leaving substantially theentire area of the blaie free and unencumbered for flexing and yieldableaccommodation of its cutting edges to the inner surface of the guard.

18. An electric shaver havingan arcuate flexible perforate guard, thecombination with the guard of an oscillatable support carrying a.plurality of thin flexible double edged cutter blades positioned alongrespective' chordsrof the arc of the guard with their cutting edgeswiping the inner surface thereof, said support including means engagingthe blades respectively at selected points only in a manner leavingsubstantially the entire area ofr'each blade free and unencumbered forflexing and accommodation of its cutting edges to the inner surface ofthe guard.

19. For an electric shaver having an arcuate perforate guard throughwhich growing hairs may protrude, an oscillatable motor driven bladeholder carried on the inner side of the guard, a flexible, rectangular,flat blade, means for mountin g the blade at a point between its edgeson the holder in a manner to dispose the blade in a plane chordally tothe inner surface of the guard with opposite edges of the bladesimultaneously engaging said guard in shearing relationship thereto andleaving substantially the entire area of the blade free and unencumberedfor flexing in relation to the guard.

20. For an electric shaver having an arcuate perforate guard throughwhich growing hairs may protrude, an oscillatable motor driven bladeholder carried on the inner side of the guard, a

flexible, rrectangular, flat blade, means on the holder for detachablymounting the blade at a plurality of spaced selected points only andbetween its edges on the holder in a manner to hold the blade in planeschordally disposed to the inner surface of the guard with opposite edgesof the blade simultaneously engaging said guard in shearing relationshipthereto and leaving substantially the entire area of the blade free andunencumbered for flexing in relation to the guard.

2l. For an electric shaver having an arcuate perforate guard throughwhich growing hairs may protrude, an oscillatible motor driven bladeholder carried on the inner sideof the guard, a flexible, rectangular,flat blade, means on the holder for detachably mounting the blade atI aplurality of spaced selected points only and between its edges on theholder in a manner to hold the blade inl planesv chordally disposed tothe inner surface of the guard with opposite edges of the bladesimultaneously engaging said guard in shearing relationship thereto andleaving substantially the' entire area of the blade free andunencumbered for flexing in relation to the guard, and means included inthe holder for yieldably holding the blade pressed into self sharpeningcontact with said guard surface.

QHARLES T. BREITENSTEIN.

